What should be the frequency (time-gap) for breastfeeding a 5-week old baby?

Answer 1

Whenever they want, typically 2 hours maximum between the start of any one feeding and the start of the next, with maybe one or two longer gaps in 24 hours. 6 feedings a day is *nowhere* near enough for most breastfed babies!! More typically, there will be a feeding every half hour to hour for a few hours in the evening, then some feedings 2 hours apart, with maybe a 3-4 hour gap overnight. But if your baby disagrees with me, believe her/him, not me!!

Answer 2

In most if not all BF(5 wk old) babies 4 hours is too long, that would be for a formula fed baby. You have to feed when the child needs to. This could be every 1 1/2- 3 hours. At night your baby may be able to go a bit longer but not much. At this stage they are going through major growth spurts and need to eat often. Also during the summer months when it is hot you may find your baby wanting to add an extra feeding - think of it as you getting a drink of water because you are hot. The number of feedings will taper off over the next couple of months so hang in there, sometimes I felt like all I was doing was BFing.

Answer 3

You should feed the baby every 2-3 hours from the time you start a feeding and up to every 4 hours at night. All babies are different though. If your baby wants to eat more often then that's okay too. Once the baby is 2 months old you can start feeding the baby on demand and not worry too much about time intervals. Good luck and enjoy your baby.

Answer 4

Follow your baby's lead!

A 5 week old will probably still be nursing about every 2 hours around the clock. (Breastmilk digests in about 90 minutes.) They may have one longer stretch of sleep if you are lucky. They could also have periods of "cluster feeding" where there are several nursings close together. (Especially right before or right after a long stretch of sleep.) They should be nursing at least 8-12 times in a 24 hour period. Note that there will be a growth spurt (high frequency feeding time) right around 6 weeks and again at 12 weeks.

Answer 5

please don't wait four hours that's not enough, and the people that say that are WRONG. At 5 weeks your baby doesn't have a routine yet, feed him/her whenever they want. It is very possible that your baby just wants to be close to you let him/her this is a special time. I know it's hard I just went through it my new baby is 12 weeks old and we just established a routine. But for the first 2months she was on her "on demand feeding schedule". just be patient you need the rest anyways. Baby will slow down in time.
But remember 2 hours tops any less is not good.

Answer 6

I fed my baby ever 3 hours or so, for as long as she wanted to feed. I know the hospital lactation consultant usually says 10 mins on each breast, but when I spoke to another, she said that the breast produces 2 types of milk, foremilk and hindmilk...

Foremilk is present at the front when baby first starts to suckle and contains mostly water to quench the thirst, the hindmilk is the one with the calories and nutrients to nourish baby, so the longer you leave the baby on one breast, the more hindmilk they will get...just thought to give you some FYI,

Although, if you have a hungry one then maybe even up to every 2 hrs

Answer 7

Breast milk digest more quickly than formula... A breast feed baby should be nursing around every 2-2 1/2 hours at that age... and if you havent been already.. I would start pumping and giving Breast milk in a bottle, my suggestion is 4 oz bottles.. that way if your child has to go to daycare or a sitter for a night out... they will be used to it.. it will also help you get a feel for how much they are taking in at different times during the day

Answer 8

Each baby is different. Nurse her when she seems hungry. At that age, my daughter nursed about every 2-3 hours during the day and was waking once at night to nurse (she would sleep 12 hours total at night). She nursed about 6 to7 times a day (which most babies nurse 8 to 12 times) but she was gaining weight just fine, so she was getting enough. Just nurse on demand. She will work out a schedule when she is ready.

Answer 9

Wow, great answers!!! I am nursing baby number 4, and my rule of thumb was whenever, wherever, and however long. My babies never settled to an actual schedule, when it came to feeding, and your baby is very close to a considerable growth spurt, (6 wks on average) So, my opinion is just to roll with it. The more relaxed you are, the more relaxed she is, so don't stress on the frequency. If she's eating, she's hungry, babies tend not to overfeed. Good luck and God Bless.

Answer 10

As your milk grant adjusts to infant's needs, and the preliminary engorgement passes, you will experience much less finished. this does not propose that your grant is drying up -- it ability that each little thing is strictly appropriately. Dont' doubt your self -- if infant is happy and content textile, wetting a good style of diapers (a minimum of 6 in keeping with day) and nursing often, you could have confidence which you're creating plenty. do no longer mess with expressing top now. basically nurse your infant. The time you may spend with a breast pump could be extra clever spent resting or assembly your man or woman needs.